Moving on from last article's rankings of the Big East offensive units, here is my opinion of how the Big East defenses break down, position by position, going into the 2003 season.

1. Virginia Tech � A very young and inexperienced defensive tackle group took their lumps last season, but this year should be much different. JR Kevin Lewis will be a handful this fall and should be the best player inside if he comes back healthy. JR DT Jason Lallis is undersized, but he has proven himself a playmaker regardless. Sophomore classmates Jonathan Lewis and Tim Sandidge showed flashes as they showed the ability to make negative plays, a key trait for a VT defensive tackle. North Carolina transfer JR Isaac Montgomery has great physical numbers, but must work on his technique and lost invaluable practice time with a spring injury. On the outside, despite the injury to Jim Davis, the Hokies have a very solid rotation. The starters probably will be SRs Nathaniel Adibi and Cols Colas who combined for 34 tackles behind the line of scrimmage last year. While both were very good, VT needs one or both to be great this year for the defense to reach the lofty goal of being one of the nation�s best. I made this prediction last year and was wrong, but I�ll reiterate it again this year � I think Colas, if he stays healthy, will average more than a sack a game. Two members of the recruiting class of 2002 provide depth, with SO Darryl Tapp a future superstar and R-FR Noland Burchette likewise looking like a solid prospect (currently slowed by an ankle sprain). Walk-on Bob Ruff looks like the favorite to nab some playing time as the fifth defensive end, while the true freshmen � Chris Ellis, Mike Brown and Barry Booker � are most likely going to redshirt . This is arguably the most depth the Hokies have had on the defensive line � Jonathan Lewis and Tapp might not even start, and by 2005 they could very well be all-ACC type players � but does VT have the top shelf impact player like Cornell Brown or Corey Moore to rush from the outside? That could be the difference between a very good and a great defense.
   
   
2. Pittsburgh � The Panthers return three of their four starters, led by quarterback killer and SR DE Claude Harriott. Harriott is the best pass rusher in the Big East, and his presence creates opportunities for everyone else on the line. He commands a double team on every passing play. Both inside players return for Pittsburgh, JRs Dan Stephens and Vince Crochunis, and it wasn�t a picnic trying to run inside against Pitt last year. It won�t be easier this fall. The fourth projected starter is SO Thomas Smith. A player to watch coming off a redshirt season is former stud recruit Troy Banner. Banner is very strong and a good enough athlete to make some noise this year.
   
   
3. Miami � Most NFL people will tell you that 6�2", 350 lb. JR DT Vince Wilfork is the best pro prospect on Miami�s team. Although that�s somewhat akin to being selected the Playboy Playmate of the Year (how exactly do you pick among the 12 nominees?), it�s safe to say big Vince�s turnoffs are training table closing times and teams that punt on third down. He�s got great feet for a huge guy and occupies a full gap and a half in his stance. He was up and down last year, but my guess is that Wilfork will be a beast inside this year. Starting next to him will be JR Santonio Thomas, a one time VT recruiting target that checks in at a svelte 302. Thomas has a lot of ability and was in the rotation last year, so expect him to emerge as a playmaker as the year progresses. Former stud recruit Orien Harris is the top backup inside, but he will have to wait his turn. He will see 30 snaps or so a game. Miami�s quicker-than-a-hiccup pass rusher from the outside is 6�5", 205 pound (yes, that�s not a typo) JR John Square. Square is not a three-down player, but off the corner he is a real force, assuming he is recovered from offseason shoulder surgery. SO Thomas Carroll is the other projected starter, and he is also 6�5" and relatively undersized at 230 lbs. Redshirt freshman Baraka Atkins, 6�4", 240 lbs., and John Wood, 6�3", 225 lbs., will see significant time so all the Canes players stay fresh. Atkins had a dynamic spring and could emerge as a big time pass rusher. He probably has the most upside of all of Miami�s perimeter players. The Canes are young up front, but count on them being very good by the time they come to Blacksburg in November.
   
   
4. Syracuse � Syracuse is a very interesting team this year. Where they are strong (running back, offensive line, defensive line) they are very strong. Where they are bad, they may very well be very bad. On the defensive line, the Orange return all four starters, with three of them being seniors. The best players are potential all-league candidate DT Louis Gachelin, who led SU with 18 tackles for losses and 8.5 sacks (a lot for an inside guy), and fellow tackle Christian Ferrara. Ferrara was hindered by injuries last year, but he is the stay at home guy that contrasts Gachelin�s upfield penetration. The ends won�t be confused with Dwight Freeney, but they have experience. SR Josh Thomas is a jumbo DE at 6�7", 288 lbs., while 6�5" SO bookend James Wyche is the youngster that the SU staff is counting on to get an upfield rush. A name familiar to Virginia HS football fans could figure in too, as former Phoebus star Shadeed Harris could make some noise at defensive tackle as a redshirt freshman.
   
   
5. Boston College � Doug Goodwin went down against the Hokies last year, but the 6�1", 285 lb. DT is a tough customer inside and he should be the best player on the line for the Eagles. Goodwin sat out the spring rehabbing his hip, but all should be well in the fall. Two other starters return in SR DT Tom Martin, and JR DE Phillip Mettling, and projected backup Tim Bulman received a lot of time after the injuries to Goodwin and the now departed Antonio Garay. DE Mathias Kiwanuka should be the fourth starter. While a little light (248), Mathias showed some pass rush ability. The player on the rise is former top 100 high school prospect Jim Unis. Only a true sophomore, Unis is an effort player who will provide quality depth.
   
   
6. West Virginia � The leader of the Mountaineer front line is undoubtedly SO nose guard (3-4 alignment) Ernest Hunter. Hunter is a little undersized (6�3", 270 lb.), but he is very strong and understands leverage. Hunter is a former Lake Braddock standout who will be a force. On the perimeter WVU is led by JR linebacker convert Ben Lynch, who is up to 265 now, SR Fred Blueford and up and coming FR Warren Young. Lynch is the guy most likely to get after the quarterback.
   
   
7. Rutgers � Rutgers actually has a pretty good case for being ranked higher than this, but I�ll admit an inherent bias against players on teams that lose to Villanova and Buffalo. SR Raheem Orr has an awful lot of ability, but he really hasn�t put it together. Fellow defensive end Alfred Peterson has a lot of starting experience and was the most productive of the returning linemen (8 tackles for a loss). Inside, SR DT Gary Gibson and SO Luis Rivas should be okay in the middle. Playmaker Ryan Neill is recovering from reconstructive knee surgery, and his return would be big for the Scarlet Knights. The big news for the Knights is that DT Nate Robinson, one of the highest-rated recruits in the country, failed to get into Miami and decided to enroll at Rutgers, instead. Depending upon how Robinson does as a true freshmen, the Knights could definitely move a spot or two up this list.
   
   
8. Temple � Led by DT Dan Klecko . . . , wait, you mean he�s finally gone to the NFL? The Owls still have some decent prospects and a solid scheme, but they don�t have anyone that will approach Klecko�s production. The Owls return two starters, SR nose tackle Taso Aspostolidis, who leads the returnees with 7 tackles for losses and three sacks, and SO DE Rodney Wormley. Wormley is only 226, so he is going to have to prove he can hold up without having Klecko as an anchor inside. The other starters will be decided in fall camp, but the early favorites are SO Mike Mendenhall at DE and SR Luis Lumpris at DT.

1. Miami � The best linebacker corps in the country plays for the Canes. The heart and soul of the Canes defense is tough-as-nails middle linebacker Jonathan Vilma. Vilma will be a three year starter, so by this point he�s seen everything. Although undersized by most standards (6�2", 220 lbs.), he has huge defensive tackles to free him to run to the ball and arrive in an angry mood. He has led the team in tackles each of the last two years, and you can expect him to again. SR strongside linebacker D.J. Williams is an athletic freak. Pro scouts are drooling over this 6�3", 250 lbs. specimen. Apparently weaned on a Nautilus machine, Williams definitely is a member of Dick Vitale�s "all airport team" (looks great coming off the plane). Williams has shown the ability to cover tight ends down the field and can be a big hitter in run support, but he lacks the instinctiveness of Vilma. He led the returning Canes with 16 tackles for losses. The third linebacker is 6�3", 220 lb. SO Roger McIntosh. He is better in space and is a terrific cover guy. He will be the next big-time Miami linebacker, but for this year he�ll still be the second runner up in the Miami LB beauty pageant. Miami has a bunch of good athletes as backups, but because of inexperience, they would feel a little bit of a pinch if either Vilma or Williams went down for an extended period of time.
   
   
2. Virginia Tech �This unit will be much improved this season, both in terms of the starters and more specifically with respect to depth. Mike (middle) linebacker Mikal Baaqee faced a baptism under fire with all of VT�s defensive tackle injuries and the loss of Vegas Robinson, but he will be much improved this year with 25 pounds of added bulk and a better line in front of him. Baaqee should lead VT in tackles and he will be an all-league candidate. Baaqee runs well and can deliver a blow. He does need to improve his ability to separate from blockers. Vegas Robinson could also be an all-league candidate assuming his ankle will allow him to play up to his ability. Robinson has great size at the backer (strongside) position, yet he also makes some plays in the passing game. He was the Hokies' playmaker at linebacker before he went down with the ankle injury. At whip, JR Brandon Manning is one of those players that is always in the right place at the right time. He hasn�t made as many impact plays as VT fans would like to see out of a whip, but he also was a first year starter last year. The depth at linebacker is improved as well, with r-FR whip Aaron Rouse � whom the staff raves about � pushing Manning for the starting job, SO Blake Warren providing experienced depth behind Robinson and JR Chad Cooper/SO Jordan Trott helping in the middle. Although I doubt they play this year, don�t forget about incoming recruits Vince Hall or Xavier Adibi either. These guys are two of the three highest rated linebacker recruits Beamer has signed (along with Jake Houseright). Both should be terrific down the line, although I would expect both to take a redshirt year to improve strength and, in Adibi�s case, add some weight.
   
   
3. West Virginia � SR linebacker Grant Wiley does everything but sell popcorn for WVU. He covers, he rushes the passer, he makes plays in the running game and he is a tough guy. He is a throwback player. JR middle linebacker Adam Lehnortt, a former high school teammate of WVU DE Ben Lynch, has a lot of ability but will need to play with a little more reckless abandon in order to be an impact player. SR Leandre Washington doesn�t have the size of his colleagues, but he runs well and he�ll have a chance to make plays when teams run away from Wiley.
   
   
4. Boston College � Two good returning outside linebackers help give some stability to the BC defense. Seniors Josh Ott and Brian Flores were productive last year (Ott had 128 tackles, Flores 74) and although both are undersized, they helped accomplish Tom O�Brien�s goal of getting more speed on the field defensively. The likely third starter at middle linebacker will be sophomore Ricky Brown.
   
   
5. Pittsburgh � They lost do-everything linebacker Gerald Hayes, but don�t cry for Pitt defensive coordinator Paul Rhoads. Two-year starter Lewis Moore has shown the ability to make plays and he has moved from the strong side to the middle this year to be closer to the action and fill the void left by Hayes. Junior Malcolm Postell received a lot of playing time last year and should be ready to step up at one of the outside spots, probably the weakside. The other position has a lot of candidates with FR Brian Bennett at the top of the depth chart at the end of the spring. Watch out for SO Joe Dipre as well. If Dipre steps in at middle linebacker, then Moore can return to the strong side. My guess is that Dipre will be the third starter by the time the Hokies go to Pitt.
   
   
6. Syracuse � For the first time in a while, it doesn�t look like the Orange have a big time linebacker that can fill the Keith Bullock/Clifton Smith void. The best player is SR Jameel Dumas, who missed the spring but should be back for the fall. Returning starter Rich Scanlon will move from the outside to middle linebacker. Scanlon is a tough and intelligent player whose statistics should dramatically improve this year. The third spot has a boatload of candidates, almost all of whom are sophomores or freshman. SO Kellen Pruitt is the leading candidate coming out of the spring.
   
   
7. Temple � Temple uses an attacking style defense and, much like the Hokies, the Owls only play with two traditional linebackers. SR Troy Bennett started more than half the games last year and posted 53 tackles. The headliner, though, is SO Rian Wallace, who made a big impact as a freshman last year with 76 tackles. Wallace is a big linebacker (6�4", 250 lbs.) with enough ability to turn heads. The NFL scouts have him on their radar screen.
   
   
8. Rutgers � Two starters return for the Scarlet Knights, but the position is hardly set for Rutgers. SR Brian Hohmann is the man in the middle for now as he slides over from his weakside linebacker spot. He has the bulk (242) to make the move. Returning strongside linebacker Brian Bender is facing a very real challenge from ballyhooed recruit William Beckford, who sat out last year for academic reasons. Beckford was a key Florida recruit for Greg Schiano, and he seems ready to break out. Until Beckford cracks the lineup and perhaps causes some more shuffling, look for SO Will Gilkison to be the weakside starter.
   
   

1. Miami � Many have labeled the Canes as the best secondary in the country, as they return all four starters from a unit that led the nation in pass defense and, perhaps more importantly, pass efficiency defense. While there is no doubt they are very good, they also benefited from having a monster line last year, so I wouldn�t call them the best in the country just yet. Free safety Sean Taylor is a 6�3", 220 lb. freight train who owns the middle. Taylor in my opinion was the best player on the Canes' defense last year, and he has the look of a first round draft choice. Strong safety Maurice Sikes had an all league season last year, but his absence in the spring allowed SO Greg Threat to emerge as a real threat to his starting job. The corners are JR Antrel Rolle and SO Kelly Jennings. Rolle is a good player, while Jennings is a thin cover guy who will need to play a little more physically to ensure he will keep his job. Miami has some depth here too, so only an injury to Taylor will really hurt.
   
   
2. Virginia Tech � Speaking of depth and talent, VT has never had four corners that returning with the experience and productivity of DeAngelo Hall, Garnell Wilds, Vincent Fuller and Eric Green. Hall might not be the best corner in the country this year, but if he isn�t, it won�t take long to take roll in the class he�s in (Marlin Jackson? Chris Gamble?). I doubt the VT coaches would trade him for anyone in the country at his position. Despite that, my guess is that we�ll see Hall play more on offense as the year goes along, assuming the VT coaches start to feel more confident in Green�s knee. Frankly, depending on how things develop the drop off at flanker may be more precipitous than the talent fall on corner, but we�ll have to see how the young wide receivers play for the Hokies. Fuller made the switch from free safety to corner last year and generally had a nice year. He had four interceptions, but he will need to improve his decision making this fall. I think he has a chance to be very good with a little more experience at corner. Wilds finished with five picks, and he really played well late in the year. Wilds doesn�t have great speed, but he understands his limitations well and plays well within the scheme. Green has been a playmaker since his freshman year on special teams and in the secondary, and if he is healthy, he might very well start. SO free safety Jimmy Williams is poised for a breakout, all Big East type season. He has great size (6�3", 213 lbs.), terrific range and he has the footwork of a corner. In fact, he worked some at corner in the spring. His range in run support is literally sideline to sideline. He will need to avoid mental mistakes, particularly being overaggressive in pass coverage, but he is going to be a star eventually. My guess is that he will emerge this year. At rover Michael Crawford returns from a generally solid first year at the position. Rovers usually improve greatly once they get experience at the position, so Crawford could have a big year in �03. Behind him, stud junior college recruit James Griffin comes in with a record of making plays as a huge hitter. Griffin is second on the depth chart, but it wouldn�t surprise anyone if he split time with Crawford early in the year. The big difference between this Hokie defense and any that Bud Foster has previously coached is depth, and nowhere is that more evident than in the two-deep secondary.
   
   
3. Pittsburgh � The Panthers have some experience back in the secondary. SR Shawntae Spencer seems ready for that breakout year. He had three interceptions last season. The other corner will be manned by either SR William "Tutu" Ferguson or SO Bernard Lay. Both should be adequate. Pittsburgh has two very good safeties in JR Tyrone Gilliard and SO Tez Morris. They can lay the wood to people when coming in run support. The backups are mostly young, with former tailback prospect Marcus Furman having the wheels to be a solid secondary guy.
   
   
4. West Virginia � JR Jahmile Addae is a potential all league candidate. Addae made a lot of plays last year with 99 tackles, four interceptions and 16 pass breakups. In the Mountaineers' three-safety alignment, he will be the leader. The other two safeties are both sophomores, Mike Lorello and Anthony Mims. Neither had great size (185 and 170, respectively) but they will add speed to the defensive backfield. Corner is in much better stead, as both starters return. Seniors Brian King and Lance Frazier know what it takes to play in the Big East. King, as you might remember, had a huge game against the Hokies last year.
   
   
5. Boston College � Memories of Andre Davis torching the BC secondary still dance through the heads of most VT fans, but the truth is the Eagles have dramatically upgraded their secondary speed lately. Former stud recruit Will Blackmon should develop into a good corner guy in his sophomore season, as he has tremendous athleticism. Fellow sophomore Jazzmen Williams is reputed to have very good speed as well. SR Paul Cook is a SR who will play strong safety, while JR T.J. Stancil is on the depth chart at free safety just ahead of yet another Hasselbeck, this time sophomore Nat. None of these guys are returning starters, but they all have a high ceiling. The lone returning starter, cornerback Peter Shean, is recovering from a torn ACL. BC�s defensive back coach left for a head coaching job, so it will be up to new assistant Kevin Lempa to get this inexperienced group ready to play.
   
   
6. Rutgers � Nate Jones is not only a good return guy, he also is a very good corner. His counterpart, fellow SR corner Brandon Haw, is capable as well. The third returning starter in the secondary is JR Jarvis Johnson. Johnson is an up and comer and he might get more action in the middle of the field because Rutgers is solid on the outside. The player projected to round out the secondary, SO Terry Bynes, should benefit from having experience around him. Rutgers actually was solid statistically against the pass last season, but that is somewhat deceptive because in some cases teams never had to do more than run the ball to win.
   
   
7. Syracuse � Maybe I just am unfairly judging the Orange, but it is tough to give high marks to SU�s defensive backfield when they gave up 500 yards passing to VT last year. The potential star is Steve Gregory, who took some lumps last year as a true freshman but did make some plays, as he had 19 pass break ups and 2 interceptions. Gregory is a versatile athlete, and he should improve after last year�s learning experience. He will need to get better at jamming guys at the line. The other corner is a redshirt freshman speed burner Terrell Lemon. Lemon is 5�10", 152 (yep, 152) so he better be a great cover guy. Former tailback Diamond Ferri is a JR who has the toughness to be a very good strong safety, while SO Anthony Smith has a reputation as a cover first player. Smith is only 165 lbs. The Orangemen have some speed, but they certainly don�t have a lot of size in their secondary. They have made some coaching adjustments which they hope will improve the pass defense.
   
   
8. Temple � The Owls also go with a five-man defensive backfield, but the only returning starter is SR Yazid Jackson. Jackson is a corner that started every game last year and was pretty productive with 65 tackles and 3 interceptions. It is virtually impossible to try to project the rest of Temple�s secondary now, as Bobby Wallace signed nine defensive backs in his latest recruiting class including seven junior college players, so I�m not even going to try. Wallace has an eye for talent, but even if these guys are talented it is going to be a real struggle for them to learn the system and play in September.

1. Virginia Tech � This ranking hinges entirely on VT finding a consistent placekicker, and that may hinge on the back of JR kicker Carter Warley. If Warley stays healthy, he should be a solid kicker. If he isn�t healthy, and he wasn�t for much of last season, he could suffer through another 60% accuracy type of year. Nic Schmitt struggled last year as Warley�s replacement, and my guess is that the staff is hoping to redshirt him. In fall drills, Warley, FR Brandon Pace has been right there with Warley and will probably be the kickoff specialist. JR punter Vinnie Burns had a solid year, averaging over 40 yards per punt, and if he keeps improving his hang time he could be on the all league team as a punter. Kickoff returning hasn�t been a VT strength since the Vaughn Hebron days, but JR Richard Johnson should have enough experience to be successful. It wouldn�t shock me if some other players got a look there, perhaps Mike Imoh or another wide receiver. At punt returner DeAngelo Hall is as dangerous as any player in the country. If he secures the ball safely, he can take it to the house any time. I also expect the coverage units to improve, as many of last year�s freshmen that played will now be bigger, stronger and faster sophomores. Again, though, it is impossible to overstate the importance of Warley�s back.
   
   
2. Pittsburgh � From a purely kicking perspective, this is the best team in the conference. Punter Andy Lee was the Big East Special Teams co-Player of the Year, and he deserved the honor after averaging over 43 yards per punt. Kicker David Abdul had a solid conclusion to his freshman year after a slow start. He converted 13 of 20 field goals but the end of the season. The return guys are unsettled, as former punt returner Billy Gaines tragically died in the offseason. Defense backs Marcus Furman and Shawntae Spencer will be the top candidates to return kickoffs.
   
   
3. Boston College � Senior kicker Sandro Sciortino set a school record with 23 field goals and probably is the best kicker in the league. Like Carter Warley, though, he has had some injury problems. The Eagles have a new punter, JR transfer Jeff Gomulinski, and he is an unknown. Will Blackmon did a nice job on kickoffs last year, including a big return against VT, but it is unknown whether he will handle kickoffs, or punts, or both, with his starting duties at corner. JR wide receiver Grant Adams is capable of returning punts, as is Nathanael Hasselbeck.
   
   
4. Rutgers � The Scarlet Knights merit this position based on SR return dynamo Nate Jones. Jones was the Big East co-Special Teams Player of the Year. He just has a knack for finding a seam when returning kickoffs, and he took two back for touchdowns last year. JR wide receiver Tres Moses will likely return punts and has some big play potential. While he only returned four last year, he averaged over 18 yards per return. Ryan Sands is returning as the starting kicker, but that�s not a good thing, because he made only five of 12 field goals and displayed limited range. He may not win the job this year. Sophomore Joe Radigan is a jumbo punter (6�5", 240).
   
   
5. Syracuse � There are numerous solid candidates to return kicks, but there is uncertainty as to the kickers for the Orange. First, the good news is that sophomores Damien Rhodes and Steve Gregory are capable kickoff returners. Both have an extra gear and should be improved after a year in the college game. Assuming Jamel Riddle doesn�t make it back, SO wide receiver Rashard Williams will be the punt returner. He has limited experience (6 returns), but should be solid. Gregory is also a fantastic kick blocker, as he blocked three kicks last season. He is a threat. Kicker Collin Barber is a returning starter, but his numbers were shaky enough (13-20, 3 missed extra points) that SU signed a kicker in February that may be given a look. Punter Brendan Carney is pretty highly regarded, but he is a redshirt freshman so he has never done it in a game.
   
   
6. Miami - Traditionally special teams have been a strong area for Miami because they have great athletes, but there is some uncertainty here for the Canes. They still have a lot of potential kick blockers/solid coverage guys because of their overall athleticism, but the kicking game is very sketchy on paper. The UM kicker, SO Mark Gent, has one attempt on his resume, a missed extra point. The punter is a redshirt freshman, Jon Peattie. True freshman Brian Monroe might end up winning the job in the fall. Wide receiver Roscoe Parrish will return punts and he�s got some shake in him (14.5 average per return last year), and Jason Geathers is a solid kickoff guy as he averaged 21.7 per return last year. Super blue chip wide receiver prospect Devin Hester will be heard from this year, and it could very well be in the return game.
   
   
7. Temple � Makonnen Fenton averaged 27 yards per kickoff return last year, a very impressive number, although he only had 14 returns. Zamir Cobb was also solid with a 9.7 yard average per punt return. Both seniors should be capable. Temple has a new kicker, Jared Davis, and a returning punter named Garvin Ringwelski who averaged 38.7 yards per punt last year.
   
   
8. West Virginia � Kicker Todd James was 11-16 on field goals last year but he missed four extra points. He also punted, but the thought this year is to just let him kick, as WVU was awful last year in net punting (less than 30 yards per punt). The new punter at this point is Brad Cooper, although there are three candidates for the job. Likewise, the return game is unsettled. WVU has some athletes, but they have not been that productive in the past.

Summary

Here's a table recapping the unit rankings.

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